FORMER Toowoomba woman Maureen Miller grew up going to the Cambooya Pony Club and idolising the "beautiful” rodeo queens.

So when she was named the Mt Isa Mines Rodeo Queen Quest's Isa Rodeo Queen in early August, it was a dream come true.

"I was absolutely speechless. To win was really a dream come true,” she said.

To participate in the quest, Miss Miller needed to chose a charity and fund raise for it.

The Laura Johnson Home in Mt Isa was her chosen charity and she raised close to $36,000 since January.

The 29-year-old beauty therapist, who also spent some years working in the region as a jillaroo, said she entered the competition and chose the Laura Johnson Home because she wanted to give back to the community.

She said the generosity of the people made her "lost for words”.

"People I've never met were happy to help out,” she said.

She hopes to compete in the Miss Rodeo Australia competition next year.